Mexican authorities confirmed that five bodies found in the state of Tamaulipas belong to members of Grupo Fugitivo, the music band whose members disappeared on Sunday.
The Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office has not detailed the exact location or the condition the bodies were in. However, five burned bodies were found in the area, with media speculating that it could be them.
"The location is being evaluated. At the time there are elements that allow us to infer this is the place where they were unfortunately killed," authorities said, according to Noticias Telemundo.
Nine people were detained in connection with the crime, with authorities adding that they belong to a branch of the Gulf Cartel.
Grupo Fugitivo vanished on May 25 shortly after performing at a private event in the Riberas de Rancho Grande neighborhood. Since then their whereabouts were unknown.
The band's van was found abandoned shortly after they disappeared. It showed no signs of violence, but the trailer used to transport their musical equipment was missing. The lead vocalist of the group, Carlos Gonzalez, is the only survivor, but largely by chance: he never boarded the van where the rest of the band members were because he was late.
The band members who were killed were:
- Francisco Xavier Vázquez Osorio, 20
- Nemesio Antonio Durán Rodríguez, 40
- Livan Edyberto Solís de la Rosa, 27
- Víctor Manuel Garza Cervantes, 21
- José Francisco Morales Martínez, 23
The case unfolds against a backdrop of escalating violence in Tamaulipas, a state long marred by cartel-related conflict. Just nine days before the band went missing, the state capital, Ciudad Victoria, witnessed a major shootout between rival criminal groups.
Artists and performers in the region are no strangers to danger. Several musicians have faced threats or even violence in recent years, underscoring the risks faced by those who perform in areas with heavy cartel activity.
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